Left-winger Brett Harkins entered the 2001-02 season hoping to return to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets. A few years earlier he toiled briefly with the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers before being relegated to the minors.

Born in North Ridgeville, Ohio Harkins attended St. Andrews High School north of Toronto before joining the Junior C Brockville Braves. After registering 69 points in 38 games for Detroit Compuware of the NAJHL in 1988-89, the young forward was claimed 133rd overall by the New York Islanders at the Entry Draft. He then spent four years at Bowling Green University before playing the 1993-94 season with Adirondack of the AHL.

Unable to gain an opportunity on Long Island, Harkins signed with the Boston Bruins prior to the Lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. While competing for the Providence Bruins, he led the AHL with 69 assists in 80 games and was recalled to Boston for one game. After coming to terms with the Florida Panthers, Harkins played eight NHL games in 1995-96. He also led the AHL in assists for the second straight year but was not able to stick with the Panthers.

Harkins returned to Boston and played 44 games in 1996-97 before he was returned to the minors. During the next four years he was a top playmaker in the IHL. After topping the "I" with 64 assists as a member of the Houston Aeros, the hard working winger signed with the upstart Blue Jackets as they prepared for their sophomore NHL campaign.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1986-87

St. Andrew's College Saints

High-ON

30

47

60

107

1987-88

Brockville Braves

ON-Jr.A

55

21

55

76

36

1988-89

Detroit Compuware Ambassadors

NAHL

38

23

46

69

94

1989-90

Bowling Green University

CCHA

41

11

43

54

45

1990-91

Bowling Green University

CCHA

40

22

38

60

30

1991-92

Bowling Green University

CCHA

34

8

39

47

32

1992-93

Bowling Green University

CCHA

35

19

28

47

28

1993-94

Adirondack Red Wings

AHL

80

22

47

69

23

10

1

5

6

4

1994-95

Providence Bruins

AHL

80

23

69

92

32

13

8

14

22

4

1994-95

Boston Bruins

NHL

1

0

1

1

0

0

1995-96

Florida Panthers

NHL

8

0

3

3

6

-2

1995-96

Carolina Panthers

AHL

55

23

71

94

44

1996-97

Boston Bruins

NHL

44

4

14

18

8

-3

1996-97

Providence Bruins

AHL

28

9

31

40

32

10

2

10

12

0

1997-98

Cleveland Lumberjacks

IHL

80

32

62

94

82

-7

10

4

13

17

14

1998-99

Cleveland Lumberjacks

IHL

74

20

67

87

84

-22

1999-00

Cleveland Lumberjacks

IHL

76

20

50

70

79

+7

9

2

8

10

6

2000-01

Houston Aeros

IHL

81

16

64

80

51

-2

7

0

3

3

8

2001-02

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

25

2

12

14

8

-5

2001-02

Syracuse Crunch

AHL

22

4

20

24

13

0

2002-03

Skelleftea AIK HK

Sweden-2

19

10

13

23

10

2003-04

HIFK Helsinki

Finland

52

10

49

59

65

13

4

9

13

12

2004-05

HIFK Helsinki

Finland

52

4

30

34

83

5

0

0

0

4

2005-06

Jokerit Helsinki

Finland

10

1

2

3

2

2006-07

Skelleftea AIK HK

Sweden

32

1

13

14

18

NHL Totals

78

6

30

36

22

Brother of Todd

Signed as a free agent by Adirondack (AHL), September, 1993. Signed as a free agent by Boston, July 1, 1994. Signed as a free agent by Florida, July 24, 1995. Signed as a free agent by Boston, September 4, 1996. Signed as a free agent by Columbus, May 29, 2001. Signed as a free agent by Skelleftea (Sweden-2), July 4, 2002.